Ravi, Former VIXX Member, Issues Apology on Social Media After Military Service Evasion Scandal

Ravi Apologizes After Military Service Controversy

Kim Won-sik, better known as Ravi, formerly of the K-pop group VIXX, publicly addressed his past actions with an apology shared on social media on March 27, 2026. He confirmed his formal discharge from military service, which took place on December 13, 2025, after serving out the remainder of his duties following a conviction tied to violations of South Korea’s Military Service Act.

In his heartfelt message, Ravi took full responsibility for his actions, expressing remorse: “I reflected on myself and realized how ashamed I was of myself for using my personal circumstances and environment as excuses when I should have pushed forward.” He went on to recognize that his “cowardly choices could hurt and harm others, ”sincerely asking for forgiveness from those impacted by his decisions.

Background of Legal Issues

Since the onset of his legal challenges, the 33-year-old rapper had maintained a low profile. In 2022, he was indicted for collaborating with a military service broker to manipulate a diagnosis of epilepsy, thereby seeking to evade active duty. As reported by Koreaboo, this involved him feigning fainting spells and submitting falsified medical documents, even exerting pressure on a physician to provide an inaccurate medical opinion despite initial concerns regarding the legitimacy of his symptoms.

Court Sentencing and Subsequent Developments

Ravi faced the Seoul Southern District Court in August 2023, where he received a one-year prison sentence, which was suspended for two years, along with a mandate to complete 120 hours of community service. The court acknowledged the severity of obstructing public duty through deceit, yet considered Ravi’s status as a first-time offender and his willingness to accept responsibility for his actions.

Following his sentencing, Ravi completed his military service responsibilities in alignment with the stipulations imposed by South Korea’s Military Manpower Administration, ultimately being discharged in December 2025. This information was reported by Chosun.

Impact on Music Career

The fallout from this saga greatly affected his music career. Only a few months after prosecutors called for a two-year sentence, in April 2023, Ravi issued his initial public apology and announced his departure from VIXX. At that time, he revealed that he had been the only profitable artist for his agency, Jellyfish Entertainment, expressing desperation in delaying his military enlistment due to contract obligations that had been postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jellyfish Entertainment confirmed his exit the same day, according to Korea JoongAng Daily.

Looking Forward

In his recent social media post, Ravi did not outline any intentions regarding a return to the entertainment industry. He concluded his message with a commitment to continue self-improvement: “I will continue to learn and discipline myself to become a better person in the future.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHf8EXC5rd8

라비(RAVI) – ROCKSTAR (Feat. 팔로알토(Paloalto))(Prod. YUTH) Official M/V (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHf8EXC5rd8)

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